Reunion of snow and flame
Boerne, Texas, The U.S.A.
She is late. I look at my phone to see the time, it's nine in the morning while I was supposed to meet her an hour ago in this cafe.
Oh, here she is.
Mitsuki had changed a lot over the course of a year, she dyed her hair a neon blue color since she kinda missed her frosty blue hair look. Wearing clothes like she's on vacation, a white shirt and hotpants, except for the spear she carries on her back wrapped in cloth. Curious, she didn't wear the hairpin she got from The Golden Order.
"Charlotte! I found you!", she ran over to me.
I put my cup of tea down with a smile, "It's good to see you again, Mitsuki."
"Yes! You look so good! Did you have a new haircut?", she excitedly sit down with me.
"Well, I did try for a shorter wolf cut.", I'm looking more and more like Sinclair every day, "It's really nothing."
As always, my barber is Utopia.
"So! What have you been up to?", she asked as she called the waitress over.
"Just some uneventful things.", I waited for Mitsuki to take her order, sending the waitress off with a smile.
I can't even conceive how she can be so bubbly and optimistic, between being a wanted criminal and fighting horrors beyond imagination, I don't get where that energy comes from. The saying "the person who smiles the most hides the most pain" might apply to her.
"Taking down some Eldritch Gods, Heralds, discovering forbidden secrets, fucking over governments, killing fishes. That sort of thing.", I took a sip of my tea, then took out a cigarette.
"That's amazing! So, how is the progress of your company?", she asked, changing the subject.
"I already have the website done, just need to find the right time to launch it.", I handed my phone over to her.
Mitsuki inspected the website, her eyes widened, "Oh... damn, this is blackmail on a whole other level! How did you get access to this kind of information?!"
"Utopia, of course.", I smiled, puffing out a cloud of smoke, "And..."
I summoned the Book of Akasha, "This has a recording of every single human on Earth."
I just feed this to Utopia with the appropriate keywords, and I have a website that has every file of all humans on Earth. Which does cost a lot of data but my knight created something called Aether Drive, where he pretty much can store an infinite amount of data inside.
"I'm kinda jealous of you two.", she pouts, "I wanna be with you~"
I already have the embodiment of sword and— oh shit, I forgot about Enna. I sent her to the Vatican since she clearly liked it there. I should probably recall her at some point...
...naaaaah.
I look at Mitsuki, "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes! I would love to hang around your ship! Though, I have my own way of going around... it would be a lot more fun with you!"
I smiled, "You will help me manage the students, there are a total of thirty students I need you to help keep an eye on."
"Okay! I can do that!", she nodded.
The waitress brought over iced tea, and Mitsuki thanked her with a smile.
"There are some ground rules I want you to remember, as well as keep the students in line. You can do that, right?"
"Of course!", she nodded.
"Don't go into the lower part of the ship, especially the engine room.", that's where Elderstahl lives, "Utopia had made designated areas for the students, don't let them enter restricted areas such as my room, the control bridge, the dungeon, server room, weapon storage—"
"Wait, you have a dungeon?!", she slammed her hands on the table.
"...yes, most used to store Cursed objects and creatures.", mostly just the Cursed Coins of the Legacy... I have too many of them, even after dumping a few million coins in another world, even then, I can make more.
"Alright! I won't pry any further.", she smiled brightly, "So~ where do I sleep?"
"Hmm...", that is a good question. Utopia could just create another room... nah, that's too boring. Mitsuki clearly has a crush on me, so... why not mess with her?
"You can use my room, I'll be using the command bridge."
Her face heated up, blood rushing through her head, "W-W-Wait! What?! Staying in your room?! H-How can that be?!"
"Relax, I need Utopia to make rooms for the students.", I let out another puff, "Fu... you can use my room, but not my computer."
I stepped over to her side, wrapping my arms around her neck, and whispered, "It is just a room, my dear friend... hehe..."
"Alright... I'll... take your room.", she hid her face with her hands.
Good...
Hehahaha~
=0=0=
We made it back to Libertas on my sportbike, but we did not enter. Instead, we went to Prydwen for her to rest.
"Hmm... you need something more to disguise yourself.", I pointed out as I rummaged through my wardrobe.
I don't have a need to buy new clothes, but Seria always sends me a couple of sets for my own convenience. Our sizes are roughly the same so I can always lend her some of my clothes.
"Tech vibe?", I pulled out a jacket with a lot of wires and pockets.
"No, I don't think it suits me.", she shook her head.
"You have neon-colored hair, you are the least qualified to deny tech wares.", I teased.
"This was a mistake! I didn't think the stylist would make my hair so bright!", she pouts, "Do you have any practical clothes?"
"I mean, I can give you my old—", I stopped myself, that one stunk real bad having been thrown into an Eldritch-powered whale... I wasn't able to get the stence fully off, plus being burned by the strongest weapon in existence, "Nevermind, you can look for clothes that suit you."
I am terrible at thinking for other people.
"Okay! Let's see what you got!", she walked over and rummaged through my clothes.
While I go on the phone... huh, the Mongolian Army is heading straight for Beijing after breaking through the Great Wall. Against a literal undead army and a moving city, China is having a hard time. And the Southeast Asia nations are destroying the Chinese bases in the South China Sea. Russia is doing better, but against over a million undead horsemen, this war of attrition will go on for many years. The G.O.C is already on the case, trying to take down the moving city, Karakorum, but the horde is hard to move through.
Things aren't looking so good for any other people. Vietnam and Laos already set up the defense with the Dragonborns as the first line, ready to burn the horde down.
Even then, the number of undead would increase with the number of dead people due to the Relic left behind by Genghis Khan, fire won't put a significant dent in their advances.
America isn't doing anything, although the government is ready to step in if the Mongolian attack one of the U.S. bases...
I know I am somewhat responsible for this, but come on, do better. Napalm the army, sink them into a sea of fire.
It irks me that there are this many people dying, but they have yet to go nuclear.
"Utopia, drop a Hammer of God onto the advancing horde.", I commanded.
"[As you Command, Your Highness.]", he heeded.
"Hm? What did you do?", Mitsuki looked at me, tilting her head.
"Just helping with the war effort.", I shrugged, "Have you got any news about the war?"
"Mmh... the news doesn't cover any of it, but Miss Asanagi did inform me that Japan will just... pray.", she looked away shyly, "I-I don't know much!"
I kinda unleashed a sealed god and killed them, so no typhoon or storm would save them this time.
Then Utopia chimed in, "[Apology for interrupting your conversation, Your Highness. The impact of the Hammer of God wiped out more than one-third of the Mongolian Horde in the China Front, and Karakorum itself suffered minor damages.]"
That would give China more time, but they are pretty much leaderless when no one wants to fight with them. Instead, there are many people hoping for the destruction of the country expressed through memes.
I nodded to his report, "Good job, Utopia. Now, flash a message to all of China stating 'This is your final chance, given graciously by the Master of Mankind. Do not mess up, as it proves that your history is useless, your culture is meaningless, and your traditions are pointless. This is your war, win it.', and end with my symbol."
"Let them know that if they fail against the horde, then they don't deserve to live.", I smiled.
"That's... pretty radical.", Mitsuki muttered, then she flinched as I gazed at her, "Not that it is bad—"
"You don't need to justify my actions.", I shook my head, "I just gave an entire country an ultimatum."
I grabbed her face, pulling her closer to me. She panicked, her cheeks went red and her eyes became unfocused.
"You can criticize me as much as you want, I will agree with what is right about who I am, and correct you when you make a wrong call.", my glasses transformed into a crown, "You can do that for me, right?"
Under the weight of my gaze, and her mind going on overdrive, she... fainted.
I just let out a chuckle, "Alright, I won't mess with you anymore."
I carried her in a princess carry over to my bed. Turn around to see my wardrobe, she had already picked out her clothes. A light blue silk jacket and white leggings, I have a lot of white leggings to be honest so missing a few pairs is fine.
Still...
I look at the sleeping Mitsuki, she wants to get close to me yet I keep on rejecting her advances. I don't have enough of a heart to care for someone else, no matter how hard I try.
In the end, I'll always push the people close to me away. In this lonely crusade of mine.
Another difference between me and Sinclair, she cares too much about humanity, which is why she fails to protect it. I, on the other hand, is selfish and think of only myself before thinking of other people, that is why I will succeed where she failed.
The nature of life is to advance forward, human is no different. In a world of neverending bloodbaths, progress is a must. And when I walk forward, not holding anyone's hand... the world, and humanity, will try to keep up with me.
To leave everyone in the dust is the first step to a glorious future. It is up to them whether they choose to be forgotten or blaze the trail of pain and despair I left for a better tomorrow.
That is my selfishness.